GREAT TEACHERS!

[tds]

from experience and/or reputation. best, tds

[BoliverAllmon]

Dr. Ernest Boamah is the best I have personally had.

[pianomann1984]

Philip Fowke is my current teacher and he's outstanding.  But from reputation, his teacher, Gorden Green turned out more successful performers than anyone I know or have heard of.  By reputation, I have heard Gyorgy Sandor, Alexander Satz (Boris Bereschowski's teacher (exuse my poor spelling!)) and Bashkirev (who has a successful piano school in Madrid) are also really outstanding.

[SDL]

Does anyone think Fanny watermann is a great teacher?  I mean have you had lessons with her? 

[robo1001]

Does anyone think Fanny watermann is a great teacher? I mean have you had lessons with her?

I haven't had a lesson with her but she will be at the summer course I'm going on  and will be taking some masterclasses and teaching some people I think.

[robo1001]

I've had a few lessons with Martin Roscoe, he was a real good teacher.

[tds]

I've had a few lessons with Martin Roscoe, he was a real good teacher.

i see. i heard really good things about him. tds

[thomj]

martin roscoe was on the audition panels for one of the colleges i auditioned for in nov 04. he was nice! lol can't say i know anything of his teaching.

[pianonut]

if you strive to be a great student, you'll probably experience your teacher as a great teacher.  west chester university has lots of really experienced and knowledgeable teachers in theory, piano, orchestration, music history, pedagogy, vocal, instrumental and many more very specific musical topics (one specialist in vaughn williams).  there are many summer trips that one can sign up for (one going to austria this summer) and many competitions (one for sight reading this semester).

i would say, don't just look for a good teacher, but a good school!  there are so many different facets to music.  it pays to take a lot of different topics (even in community college).  i started out taking music history there, and it was cheaper.  sometimes you will find a community college that is heading toward accreditation as a four year university (such as Antelope Valley College in Lancaster, California).  it may already be, but the courses were VERY reasonable.  it's more expensive on the east coast at universities - but if you can't afford the classes GO AND CHECK OUT THE BOOKSTORE!!!  You can find lots of great textbooks to read and work from.  Basically, that's what you are told to do -read the textbooks and research the topics in more depth in class.

Great teachers make you more and more curious.

[tds]

Great teachers make you more and more curious.

this is so fine, pianonut. how much is it? tds *grabs his wallet*

[pianonut]

west chester university is actually very moderately priced compared to julliard (my teacher says).  and, if you buy used textbooks you can save a bundle.  i have also done other money saving alternatives (such as getting some scores off the internet) instead of buying them.  some textbooks are cheaper to order yourself through barnes and noble.

if i were to start all over again, i would spend lots of money on trips here and there, and as little as i could get away with on extemporaneous things.  i've noticed the really bright music students here have some foreign language experience and have travelled to some great places (ie italy, etc.)

[steinwayguy]

Richard Goode. Whew. That man knows his stuff.

[franzliszt2]

Martin roscoe is an amazing teacher, I've had lessons with him, he teaches at royal academy of music and guildhall school of music. He is extremly good, absolutly amazing in my opinion, really helps and makes himself clear when he's explaining new ideas, and is open to accept your own opinions on the pieces, as I have met teachers who just want you to replicate there own interpratation. his technique is also inspiring!!!, his hands just float over those keys!!

[alzado]

I am very satisfied with my teacher, but as a senior citizen I may not be asking as much from her as some of you expect from your teacher.

I do not want her to "inspire me" although sometimes she does.

I do NOT want her to play for me, because she can waste a third of my lesson time showing off at my expense. 

I do NOT want her to choose my lesson pieces for me.  I do that myself.

The more you put over onto your teacher to manage, the less you learn.

Moreover, some of these self-proclaimed "great teachers" charge an outrageous and unjustified amount.   As TDS wrote, "grab your wallet." 

Forget these self-important puffed-up quacks who strut around, puff out their chests, and charge outrageous fees.  Half of them should probably be sent to prison for fraud.

Take control of your own program.  Your bank account will thank you for it.

[pianistimo]

it depends on what you want to do with music.  if you want to major in piano performance - you get what you pay for, imo.  i'd rather pay a music teacher than an auto mechanic - although both are important.  why should musicians wages suffer?

i know my teacher at wcu was reasonable as compared to many others (taking through a university gives you a semester rate) especially single private lessons.  and, you learn at about 4x the rate  (or could.  i have a family and it's harder to put in long days of practice). 

anyway, if you truly want a career - you have to invest in it.  my teacher is probably still paying off his own education bills - so i don't feel bad if i helped him. 

why do people pay tips to waiters and waitresses and be stingy toward piano teachers.  i say, spoil them.  i feel that many teachers are not paid what they are worth.  society doesn't value music the way it used to - yet, ball players, etc. make fortunes.  if i had a wish to make - it would be that suddenly money would fall from the sky on all those self-employed teachers that have no health insurance, very little if any retirement, and still put out from their hearts everything they can for their students.

[e60m5]

Nina Svetlanova. Best teacher in the world.

[arensky]

Nina Svetlanova. Best teacher in the world.

So I've been told. I would have studied with her if I had gone to New York for grad school, but I stayed in Beantown...